John Grant:
>What about Karajan with Sym 4567 (on DG)? I'm not a great K. fan, but
>with the Shostakovich Syms (at least the above-mentioned) I find his
>interpretations stunning. I exclude Sym 2 from the list. I have heard
>one recording by K. of it; I didn't like it at all.
Karajan, I belive Mr Grant must be mistaken, unless I've lost the ability
to read, the comon DDS discography (Hulme) only mentions one symphony that
was recorded by Herr Karajan, the tenth (twice). Perhaps a mixed up cross
refference? Bernstein perhaps?
And comming to the second I belive that Mr Grant is way of, Firstly it
is one symphony that Karajan would never tuch, never did and secondly it
is quite an intresting work. Both musically and through its historical
context, to dimiss it lightly like J.G. does just prove an inability
to assess its importance not least as a development tool for the young
composer. Musically it shows us a composer trying out new possibilitys,
just listen to the chaotical forst 5 mins (there is ever a short quotation
of something that could be from the song "happy birthday to you"). The
fact that he made a concession to the times he lived in and incorporated a
second rate soviet realist poem in the last stansas is something we have to
live with, wheter or not we like its message.
peter lundin, gothenburg.se - Counting the days: DSCH 100 (1906-2006)